In a nail-biting showdown at the AT&T Center, the Houston Rockets escaped with a 103-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, despite the Spurs' last-minute efforts to close the gap. According to ESPN, key free throws in the dying seconds of the game kept the Rockets ahead as San Antonio frantically attempted to overturn the deficit. Rockets guard Dillon Brooks, following the team's strategy down to the wire, stated, "We wanted to foul and not let them get any shots up on the rim, make them earn it on the free throw line."
The Rockets, still pushing to secure a spot in the play-in tournament, improved their record as they notched their fourth consecutive road win. Fred VanVleet led the charge with 21 points, even with Houston missing Alperen Sengun due to injuries he sustained in a previous matchup. Meanwhile, the Spurs faced the challenge of compensating for the less than stellar performance from their high-flying rookie Victor Wembanyama, who put up just 13 points against Houston's relentless defense. Jeremy Sochan’s 21 points and Tre Jones’ 24, including a career-high four 3-pointers, kept Spurs hopes alive, but weren't enough to avoid their 52nd loss of the season according to KENS5.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lamented the performance, referencing the critical moments that decide the outcomes of closely contested NBA games. "Down the stretch, you got to make shots," Popovich highlighted in an interview obtained by KENS5. On the other side, Houston coach Ime Udoka praised his squad for executing the game plan perfectly, especially in neutralizing Wembanyama. "Guys that are undersized that can kind of move in on him and take him off his spot," Udoka explained to ESPN about the strategy against the 7-foot-2 French phenom.
Despite the loss, San Antonio's young talents displayed why they're worth keeping an eye on. Wembanyama, who has been a bright spot in an otherwise dim season, remains optimistic. "Coach (Popovich) said it again tonight in the locker room. It's our job, and this is what we're here for: to win as soon as possible but also in the long run. So it's there's no other option," Wembanyama told KENS5. With the team now staring down a record that threatens to echo the franchise's worst, the Spurs are preparing to take on the Denver Nuggets on Friday in Austin, as part of their initiative to reach out to fans in the wider region.
